This is a shortened form of the earlier "rake-hell," apparently in common use in the 16th century.
The word is first used in combination in the phrase "tawdry lace," a shortened form or corruption of St Audrey's or St Awdrey's lace.
For his account of earlier events he was able to obtain information from his father, who was one of the most prominent 1 A shortened form of Chalcocondyles, from xaXicos, copper, and xovSvXos, knuckle.
The shortened form of cassock which survives in the bishop's "apron" was formerly widely used also by the continental clergy.
The use of the word for a place of commercial business has usually been taken to be a shortened form of Exchange (q.v.) and so is often written 'Change.
